[finallyamom0310]

Lately I have seen a lot of references to Adoption Books that have been created as storybooks for showing and explaining Adoption to children as they get older. I haven't made one to date and was curious where everyone got information on how to create one? Is there a book to use as a guide? What have you included in your adoption books?

I have kept a record of all the correspondance between DD's BMom and us and have it ready for her when she is old enough to understand. But really want to put something together that will help her know her story while she is younger.

[Eponine]

I probably won't be of much help as I haven't made DS's yet, but if you search for "Life Books" you'll probably find a wealth of information.

It was part of the training our agency had us do for the homestudy - Life Books are sometimes more aimed at foster children who may not have a baby book or much from their past so a Life Book gives them something permanent to keep with them.

The basic guidelines given to us by our agency were to make it something that can be updated (so use a 3-ring binder or something that pages can be added to) as the child grows. This way you can put in what is appropriate at different ages, etc. Also they suggested making it something that is ONLY for the child - they can share with others if they choose to but it is their book (whereas something like a baby book or scrap book may be something you as a parent may show others).

[finallyamom0310]

Thanks, I will do that. Unfortunatly with our agency since they were a national agency there was no training or anything. This is our first adoption and haven't done anything like foster care either so I appreciate the guidance.

[Lilly's Mommy]

I made ours to be something we could begin reading to Lilly as a baby, and we did. It's a favorite bedtime book.

I went with a simple photo album w/ protected pages and formatted it with our photos and simple text.

It goes something like...

Here's mommy and daddy. (page 1, photo of us)
This is our house. (page 2, photo of house)
Here's __, our funny kitty cat. (page 3, you get the idea)
And here's our family: mommy, daddy & Lilly
Mommy and Daddy always wanted to have a family, but mommy couldn't grow a baby in her tummy.
Somewhere else, __ had a baby in her tummy but she wasn't able to be a mommy yet. (photo of __ pregnant)
She wanted to find a family who would love her baby as much as she did, and who would be the baby's parents after she was born. God helped her to find us and we were so happy when she chose us to be your mommy and daddy. (photo of the 3 of us pre-birth)
This is you when you were born, a tiny baby that we all loved so much.
Mommy and daddy were so happy to get to bring you home.
At the courthouse, the judge made it official. We became a family forever.

It's very simple, and obviously geared for a small child, but we felt like it was a way for us to begin talking about her adoption. As she gets older, we will talk more about the circumstances and emotions involved, but for me, this book was just for indroduction of the way our family was made.

Good luck making your book!

[finallyamom0310]

Thanks so much. The examples you supplied will really help us. I am going to talk to DH tonight about starting this.

[Fran27]

I'm planning on making one also, scrapbook-style

My idea so far (stole some from Lily's mommy, great ideas there!!!!)

- us, and why we wanted a baby
- their birth and 'the call'
- their birthparents (we have some information about them but no pictures, so I'm going to illustrate with random pictures that represent what they like etc)
- why they joined our family (that one's really tricky... not too sure what will be age-appropriate to say yet, I might end up hiding a page behind another or something)
- how they were welcome in our family (pictures at the hospital, hotel etc)
- a few pictures of them until the finalization. With an emphasis on it being their forever home etc.

[Eponine]

Also wanted to add, for those of us like me that are not crafty & scrapbook-enabled, that you can get a photo book printed by pretty much any of the photo-sharing websites. You can upload pictures and add your own captions and storyline. I don't think I'm allowed to share a specific brand here, but you can PM me for it if you are interested.

DH & I plan to do this for DS so he has a book he can read, chew on, etc but we keep the irreplaceable stuff from his birthfamily safe. We'll have to get new ones made as he grows up and what is age-appropriate changes but that's not a big deal. Plus, like I said, I'm scrapbook-challenged so this appeals to me.

[Proud2BHisMom]

I am an avid scrapbooker so my son's book is in that format. He's 9 months old and I have only about 10 pages that document just a few of the moments of his life thus far. The very first page contains a photo of his birthmother and a photo of me holding him. I take tons of photos of him just about everyday (thank goodnes for my digital camera) and I anticipate many more pages will be added to his book. I think it's important to capture major milestones (i.e.,the day we brought him home) all the people that he's met (his new family) and any thoughts we've had along the way(I write him a letter every month - these will end up in a separate scrapbook). I am also saving a copy of our adoption profile for him. There's not nearly as much available in the way of adoption related scrapbook items (paper, stickers, etc.); but I've managed to find a few things. There are lots of web sites that offer suggestions for creating an adoption or life-book

[Steph-Jason]

Barnes & Noble has adoption themed baby books. I've started writing letters to my DD (that feels so great to say that!!) & will share them with her later on.

Epotone - I just PM'd you - I'd love to find out which sie you used.

[abjbadopt]

You have to get the book, 'Lifebooks, Creating a Treasure for The Adopted Child'!! It is a wonderful book that will help guide you as you create a book for your child. It is to help you tell their story to them, not just adoption, but when they were born, why placed, any history of Bfamily and then the adoption and your family stories. It creates a complete story for your child.

I am working on one for my daughter. Someone gave me this book and thought I know what a "lifebook" was until I read it. It is your child's story, not our story of adopting them. I also am doing a scrapbook and baby type book with first tooth, steps, etc. too.

[abjbadopt]

Originally Posted by Lilly's Mommy

I made ours to be something we could begin reading to Lilly as a baby, and we did. It's a favorite bedtime book.

I went with a simple photo album w/ protected pages and formatted it with our photos and simple text.

It goes something like...

Here's mommy and daddy. (page 1, photo of us)
This is our house. (page 2, photo of house)
Here's __, our funny kitty cat. (page 3, you get the idea)
And here's our family: mommy, daddy & Lilly
Mommy and Daddy always wanted to have a family, but mommy couldn't grow a baby in her tummy.
Somewhere else, __ had a baby in her tummy but she wasn't able to be a mommy yet. (photo of __ pregnant)
She wanted to find a family who would love her baby as much as she did, and who would be the baby's parents after she was born. God helped her to find us and we were so happy when she chose us to be your mommy and daddy. (photo of the 3 of us pre-birth)
This is you when you were born, a tiny baby that we all loved so much.
Mommy and daddy were so happy to get to bring you home.
At the courthouse, the judge made it official. We became a family forever.

It's very simple, and obviously geared for a small child, but we felt like it was a way for us to begin talking about her adoption. As she gets older, we will talk more about the circumstances and emotions involved, but for me, this book was just for indroduction of the way our family was made.

Good luck making your book!

This is great for a baby/toddler!! I love it! I want to do a simple book like this for our daughter and then a Lifebook for when she's older. Thanks for sharing!